No. 21 Giants | No. 23 Falcons | NFC West | Full List
No. 22: ST. LOUIS RAMS
Last Season: 6-10
Fourth place, NFC West
Nick Foles has shown he can produce at a high level when supported by a topflight offensive line, ample weapons and a cutting-edge scheme. He had those things in Philly for a while, but he struggled when the parts around him diminished. Unfortunately for Foles, the Rams' line is young -- they have six rookie linemen this season, and some will start -- and their weapons are unproven (there are no LeSean McCoys or DeSean Jacksons here, and first-round RB Todd Gurley is still rounding into form). Fortunately for Foles, St. Louis should have one of the best defenses in the league; it returns a dominant defensive front featuring Chris Long, Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald. That gives hope that Foles will get support, but the QB could use a few surer bets on offense. -- Mike Sando
With all 11 starters, coordinator Gregg Williams and most of the depth back in the fold, the Rams' defense could be good enough to carry the freight for the entire team. If the defense is able to take that next step and become a top-tier group, the offense just needs new quarterback Nick Foles and a revamped offensive line to limit turnovers and facilitate enough big plays to push the Rams into playoff contention.
With three new starters on the line and a new starting quarterback under the guidance of a new coordinator -- and a rookie, Todd Gurley, eventually taking over at running back -- the offense might not be able to score enough points, no matter how well the defense plays.
Rams' percentage chance to win each game
Sept. 13 vs. Seattle: 39.4
Sept. 20 @ Washington: 52.8
Sept. 27 vs. Pittsburgh: 49.7
Oct. 4 @ Arizona: 37.4
Oct. 11 @ Green Bay: 25.7
Oct. 18 vs. Cleveland: 67.9
Nov. 1 vs. San Francisco: 59.1
Nov. 9 @ Minnesota: 42.6
Nov. 15 vs. Chicago: 62.4
Nov. 22 @ Baltimore: 34.2
Nov. 26 @ Cincinnati: 37.1
Dec. 6 vs. vs. Arizona: 51.4
Dec. 13 vs. Detroit: 52.3
Dec. 20 vs. Tampa Bay: 69.1
Dec. 27 @ Seattle: 27.0
Jan. 3 @ San Francisco: 46.4
Nick Wagoner's game-by-game predictions
The Rams have changes all over the offense but nowhere is it more important than quarterback and the line. Foles finally gives them a healthy option who should be an upgrade over backup-caliber signal-callers like Kellen Clemens and Shaun Hill. But his continued health is no sure thing playing behind a revamped line that includes rookies Jamon Brown and Rob Havenstein. For Foles -- and by extension, the Rams -- to succeed, that line needs to grow up in a hurry.
This is the fourth season of the Jeff Fisher/Les Snead regime, which hasn't yielded more than seven wins. Fisher has said that such mediocrity is no longer acceptable, and that seems to be the prevailing sentiment around the team. After three years spent developing draft picks, the Rams even believe a division crown is in reach. "I anticipate us contending for the West," said Snead, the general manager. "I'm planning on it, expecting it and not scared."
It took the Rams four offseasons to fully commit to becoming the power-running/dominant-defense model that Fisher espoused upon his arrival in 2012. They finally invested the draft capital in the offensive line and parted with injury-prone quarterback Sam Bradford, but their refusal to do it sooner means the Rams will have too many growing pains to rise above the mediocre levels they've been accustomed to under Fisher. Which means another middling finish is in the offing.
No. 21 Giants | No. 23 Falcons | NFC West | Full List
